New Mexico Books

Every year since 1980 California's University of the Pacific has hosted the John Muir Institutes, reaching top scholars of his work: John Muir: Family, Friends And Adventures gathers essays from those who participated in the 2001 institute, surveying his associates and professional relationships, his friendships, and his major influences. Chapters provide plenty of quotes from letters and source materials in the process of providing a scholarly overview of Muir's life.

The book has excellent photos of most of the work of the mexican academical painter Jose Maria Velasco, who made mainly landscapes of the Valley of Mexico, Oaxaca, and some other places. His history, his life and his works are described with great knoweldge by his descendant Ma. Elena Altamirano. The book is a must for everybody who likes to know the painting in Mexico at the end of XIX and the begining of XX century.

Josefina is part of The American Girls Collection. This paper doll set makes a wonderful addition to the books. In addition to the doll and her 10 outfits and pet goat Sombrita, there is also a storybook to assemble. There is a sheet of instructions for using the stand and making the book and accessory envelope. There is also a card to send away for an American Girls Catalog. The cardboard envelope she comes in can be used to store everything. Josefina, Sombrita and their stands come on heavy card stock. Her outfits, accessories, and book pages come on glossy paper. They are beautifully colored. Josefina lived in 1824 New Mexico when it was still part of Mexico. The odd book pages tell a story about Josefina; the even pages give historical information about New Mexico and the life there. The backs of the outfits and accessories give their names. The large items give details about how they were made, when worn, where the material came from and how to cut them out and use the accessories. In addition to the clothing there are jars and pots, food and decorations, books, toys and even a piano. The outfits range from work clothes to party clothes for summer and winter. You get a real feel for what life was like back then. This is a wonderful paper doll. While it's great for readers of The American Girls books, it's also appropriate for anyone interested in Hispanic culture.

Reviewer, Dr. Janet M. Carey from Littleton, CO
Within this extremely interesting and timely book Sexton translates Tzutuhil Mayan Ignacio Bizarro Ujpan's diary entries of eleven years from 1987 to 1998. Sexton's Introduction expertly presents a backdrop of the historical, political and cultural contexts the Guatemalan Indian people find themselves in today as they attempt to survive the modern political climate in their ancient land. Sexton skillfully blends Bizarro's eyewitness accounts of the horror resulting from being Indian in Guatemala. Bizarro tells the story of his people as they cope with being caught between opposing forces of state military troops and the guerrilla bands that have wrapped Guatemala in decades of civil violence.
Via Bizarro's graphic personal narrative, Sexton excitingly and sometimes somewhat sadly, brings to the reader the ongoing, heartbreaking realities experienced by Bizarro, his family and friends. Throughout this book it is evident, despite unbelievable hardship, that the Guatemalan Mayan Indian people continue to love their country and sense of place. Bizarro's statement of, "that is why I say that in Guatemala there is no peace," is followed with his words, "Guatemala is such a beautiful country, so good that God has placed its green countryside in the center of America, where the little birds sing their songs in praise of God All-Powerful. But it's a pity that my beautiful country is going everyday from bad to worse. Every day they [current political regimes] are bathing it with the blood of their [Mayan] children who loved so much this beautiful land of the quetzal."
Sexton's ability to pursue the anthropological method of life-history fieldwork with Bizarro, which now spans more than three decades, is not commonplace. Bizarro and Sexton have collaborated for a period of over thirty years. This fascinating, firsthand account of the modern Tzutuhil Mayan lifeway as told by Bizarro and translated by Sexton, is only made possible through their long, continuous relationship. Bizarro's is a most touching story. Sexton, in his choice of photographs, illustrations and admirable organization of the book, brings together the beauty and the strength of the Tzutuhil Mayan culture around Lake Atitlan as Bizarro tells how his people live with modern-day political dramas as they unfold in the highlands of Guatemala.

Think hiding out in a mountain cabin would be romantic? Grace thought her predicament was upsetting and unnerving---until she fell for the man she was stranded with. Only she wouldn't let him in on her secret. She'd hold her love quietly in her heart.

But then that wasn't like Grace. She never could keep a secret, and she never could fall in love, until she fell for Dr. Gatlin O'Malley.

JUST GRACE is another exciting ride conjured up by Carolyn Brown. Hop aboard, and bring your seat belt.

This book was captivating, I couldn't put it down.

This is a good introduction to the Hopi and their reaction to the influence of white culture, focusing on the effects on the Katsina religion. This is not so much a book about Katsina dolls, but about the religion and how it has changed under the pressure of white culture. Very nice illustrations, well written.

This book has superior images both literary and visual. Wheather you are young or old this book paints a lasting image that just makes the heart go swish!

Although the ordinary copies of this book have been long out of print (2001), a special edition was prepared of 100 copies on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of Kino's arrival in the Pimería Alta. These books, internally labelled "Rim Edition," include a parchment page with the official postal stamp issued in honor of Padre Kino and inaugurated on March 12, 1987. These special copies were numbered, signed by the author, and cancelled in Cucurpe, Sonora, on the day of first issue 3/12/1987. This edition also contains four photographs of events that took place in celebration of the anniversary. At this writing (July, 2001), forty copies are all that remain. The price of this extremely rare and special edition is $...(US). The edition was inscribed as the "Rim Edition" because Kino had reached Cucurpe on that very date, and the historian Herbert Eugene Bolton coined the phrase: The Rim of Christendom to describe the launching of Kino's great explorations and missionary apostolate.

The coal mining town of Koehler once existed 16 miles from Raton NM.
F. Stanley's booklet is one of the few, perhaps only, history of this town. It's an easy read, somewhat simplistic but does give one a sense of what life was like. Particularly valuable to someone whose ancestors once lived and worked there. Nothing remains of Koehler.